Kokomo — In his 40 years at the Howard County Sheriff Department, Steve Rogers never imagined he would be nominated for sheriff. After an unsuccessful bid in 1986, Rogers was on the brink of retirement.
That all changed Tuesday evening when he won the Republican bid for sheriff, getting past Mike Tarrh and Todd Everling.
“I didn’t really think about,” Rogers said of being sheriff. “A few years ago, I thought my career was coming to an end,” he said.
That was until Sheriff Marty Talbert was elected and appointed Rogers his right-hand man.
“I had no idea he would ask me to be his chief deputy,” Rogers said. “I can’t say it was a plan.”
With about 83 percent of the precincts in, Rogers held a commanding 4,033-to-2,270 lead over Mike Tarrh.
When it was all said and done, he claimed 55.5 percent of the vote. Tarrh took 33.2 percent and sheriff deputy Todd Everling finished third, with 11.3 percent.
“I want to thank my family and friends and everybody who supported me,” Rogers told the supporters gathered at Republican headquarters to watch the results come in. “I’ll do my best to keep a Republican in office.”
Rogers also thanked the other candidates for running a good, clean race.
“It was the type of race where we kept all of the unnecessary drama out of it,” he continued. “And I hope that continues in the fall.”
Rogers will face Capt. Harold Vincent in November. Vincent currently serves as the jail commander at the Howard County Sheriff Department.
Rogers filed in 1986 to seek the Democratic Party nomination for sheriff, but lost to eventual winner John Beatty.
Seeing the results, Tarrh, a 28-year veteran of the Indiana State Police at the Peru Post, and Everling thanked all of their supporters in brief concession speeches.
“I would like to say thank you for the great amount of people who helped,” said Tarrh. “This is a great community. It was a very humbling experience.
“Two years ago I never imagined I would be up here being a candidate,” Tarrh continued. “It was an unbelievable experience. Congratulations to Steve. I consider him a good friend.”
Everling also thanked his supporters.
“We had our ups and downs,” said Everling, a 16-year veteran
deputy, to the crowd. “I really enjoyed it.
“For those who didn’t win, don’t give up. For the ones who did, if you
need anything, let me know,” he said.
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